Psalms 75:8

For in the hand of the LORD [there is] a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring [them] out, [and] drink [them].

For in the hand {H3027} of the LORD {H3068} there is a cup {H3563}, and the wine {H3196} is red {H2560}{H8804)}; it is full {H4392} of mixture {H4538}; and he poureth out {H5064}{H8686)} of the same {H2088}: but the dregs {H8105} thereof, all the wicked {H7563} of the earth {H776} shall wring them out {H4680}{H8799)}, and drink {H8354}{H8799)} them.

In ADONAI's hand there is a cup of wine, foaming, richly spiced; when he pours it out, all the wicked of the earth will drain it, drinking it to the dregs."

For a cup is in the hand of the LORD, full of foaming wine mixed with spices. He pours from His cup, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to the dregs.

For in the hand of Jehovah there is a cup, and the wine foameth; It is full of mixture, and he poureth out of the same: Surely the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall drain them, and drink them.

Commentary

Psalms 75:8 (KJV): For in the hand of the LORD [there is] a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring [them] out, [and] drink [them].

Context

Psalm 75 is a psalm of thanksgiving for God's just judgment and intervention. It contrasts human pride and boasting with God's ultimate control over exaltation and abasement. The psalmist affirms that judgment belongs to God and that He will judge the earth righteously. Verse 8 paints a vivid picture of this divine judgment, specifically focusing on the fate of the wicked.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The central theme is God's sovereign right and power to judge humanity. The "cup" symbolizes the outpouring of His wrath and justice upon the unrighteous.
  • The Cup of Wrath: This imagery, found elsewhere in scripture, represents the suffering and punishment that God's judgment brings upon those who oppose Him. The "red wine" and "mixture" emphasize its potency and bitterness.
  • Fate of the Wicked: The verse starkly describes the inevitable and complete consumption of God's wrath by the wicked. They are forced to drink even the bitter "dregs," signifying the full, undiluted measure of their punishment.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "mixture" (ืžึถืกึถืšึฐ, mesek) refers to wine mixed with spices or drugs, often to increase its intoxicating effect or bitterness, enhancing the imagery of a potent, unpleasant draught of judgment.

The "dregs" (ืฉึฐืืžึธืจึดื™ื, shemarim) are the sediment left at the bottom of the winepress or jar. To "wring out" and drink the dregs means to consume the very last, most concentrated, and bitter part of the cup, leaving nothing spared.

Related Scriptures

The imagery of the cup of wrath is powerful and appears in various parts of the Bible, symbolizing divine judgment. Jeremiah 25:15 speaks of God giving Jeremiah a cup of fury to cause nations to drink. The New Testament also uses this imagery, such as in Revelation 14:10, which describes those who worship the beast drinking the wine of God's wrath poured out without mixture.

This verse stands as a warning to the wicked, whose fate is contrasted with the hope offered to the righteous through God's grace and mercy, ultimately found in Christ (see John 3:16).

Reflection

Psalm 75:8 serves as a sobering reminder of the reality of God's judgment against sin. The imagery of the cup emphasizes that punishment is a direct consequence of wickedness, administered by God Himself. It highlights the seriousness of rejecting God's authority and living in opposition to His ways. For believers, it underscores the immense grace of God in Christ, who Himself drank a cup of suffering (Matthew 26:39), thereby offering salvation and deliverance from the cup of God's wrath for those who trust in Him.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Job 21:20

    His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

  • Jeremiah 25:15

    ยถ For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.

  • Psalms 11:6

    Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: [this shall be] the portion of their cup.

  • Revelation 16:19

    And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

  • Revelation 14:9

    And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

  • Revelation 14:10

    The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

  • Jeremiah 25:27

    Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.
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